Giants manager Bruce Bochy hasn’t used chewing tobacco since April 14, when a session with hypnotherapist Dr. AlVera Paxson apparently cured him of the longtime habit, according to Janie McCauley of the Associated Press.
Bochy visited Paxson after bullpen catcher Bill Hayes and equipment manager Mike Murphy stopped dipping following sessions of their own. Hayes hasn’t dipped since January and Murphy has gone two years without. Total cost: $300.
All of which is interesting and impressive, but I’ll wait to form my opinion on hypnotherapy until Paxson takes a crack at fixing the Giants’ offense. Getting middle-aged men to kick a decades-long habit cold turkey is one thing, but getting Aubrey Huff to start hitting again is the real challenge.
